The computer-assisted differentiation of hemoglobin variants.

Using a TRS-80 Radio Shack microcomputer system, we have computerized the differentiation of hemoglobin variants according to their mobilities in four methods of zone electrophoresis, each measuring a somewhat different aspect of molecular structure. In the identification routine of the program, the electrophoretic mobilities of an unknown variant are compared mathematically to the mobilities of previously analyzed variants; the computer prints out those known variants whose mobilities are within a specifiable interval on either side of the mobilities of the unknown variant. Properly specifying this interval is essential to the effectiveness of the identification. Another routine in the program classifies the variants according to any of ten molecular variables. Computerizing the identification and the information output provides a way to differentiate many variants, allows convenient handling of a large number of data on them, and facilitates their structural analysis.